MLS Week 12: A Look Ahead

Fresh off a 4-1 win midweek over Philadelphia, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and the Los Angeles Galaxy will try to make it 2-for-2 on their East Coast swing with a win over Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and the New York Red Bulls. Barring an MLS Cup clash, it will be the only meeting this year between the high-profile clubs.

Elsewhere around the league, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers will meet in a Cascadia Cup tilt; the Seattle Sounders will try to continue their surge against first-place FC Dallas; and Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew will renew their Trillium Cup feud.

This match could mark the debut for a pair of intriguing Toronto acquisitions after defender Steven Caldwell was brought in on loan from Birmingham City and midfielder Bobby Convey was added from Kansas City.

For the Crew, the absence of Chad Marshall (hamstring) leaves a major void in central defense, with Danny O’Rourke, Tyson Wahl and Josh Williams all candidates to slide into the position.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS (Saturday, 7 p.m., MLS Live)

Riding a nine-game unbeaten streak, the Timbers will look to grab a result on the road against a Whitecaps squad that defeated Los Angeles 3-1 last weekend for their first triumph since early March.

With both teams utilizing 4-3-3 formations, the match could very well be won in midfield, where the Portland trio of Diego Chara, Will Johnson and Diego Valeri will likely be matched up with Vancouver’s Gershon Koffie, Jun Marques Davidson and Nigel Reo-Coker.

PHILADELPHIA UNION vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MLS Live)

With the status of centerback Jeff Parke (hamstring) still questionable, Philadelphia’s back line will face a retooled Chicago attack, featuring Patrick Nyarko and Chris Rolfe up top.

On the other end, Chicago’s youthful centerback pairing of Austin Berry and Jalil Anibaba will try to keep a better eye on Jack McInerney after the 20-year-old poacher scored the winner when these teams met last weekend at Toyota Park.

With their 36-game home unbeaten streak snapped, the Dynamo will try to start over at one when they welcome a New England team that could debut recently acquired striker Juan Agudelo.

With forward Giles Barnes (hamstring) a question mark, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear may have to decide between finding a new striker partner for Will Bruin or again switching to a 4-3-3 alignment.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS vs. FC DALLAS (Saturday, 10:30 p.m., MLS Live)

Enjoying a 3-0-2 spurt after starting the season 0-3-1, the Sounders would love to continue their climb up the Western Conference standings by grabbing three points against the league leaders.

Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman must decide if he is willing risk George John (knee), Andrew Jacobson (hamstring) or David Ferreira (hamstring) on the CenturyLink Field turf as those players battle back from injuries.

After going 19 games at RFK Stadium without a loss, D.C. United have dropped four straight at their home venue and seven consecutive matches overall. To make matters worse, Kansas City is 5-0 against United since coach Ben Olsen took over in D.C.

Sporting will be short-handed for this road trip, however, with centerback Aurlien Collin and midfielder Uri Rosell suspended and Defender of the Year Matt Besler questionable with a knee sprain.

CHIVAS USA vs. REAL SALT LAKE (Sunday, 10:30 p.m., MLS Live)

Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis is hopeful for some reinforcements in this contest, with defender Nat Borchers (flu), midfielder Cole Grossman (concussion), and forwards Robbie Findley (knee) and Alvaro Saborio (quad) on the verge of making their returns.

Chivas, meanwhile, won’t be at full strength, as rookie midfielder Carlos Alvarez and defender Mario de Luna will both be serving suspensions.